Eli Lilly pays $60M to Aktis for radiopharma investment

Aktis Oncology is collaborating with Eli Lilly to harness the power of radioactive isotopes combined with miniproteins, a move that signifies the continued expansion of Lilly's presence in the radiopharmaceutical sector. This new partnership involves an upfront payment of $60 million to Aktis, with potential milestone payments that could reach up to $1.1 billion. This strategic move comes as Lilly aims to bolster its oncology pipeline with advanced therapeutic and diagnostic products targeting multiple cancer sites.

Eli Lilly's foray into radiopharmaceuticals began to take shape with its acquisition of Point Biopharma for $1.4 billion last year. This acquisition provided Lilly with a robust foundation that includes a manufacturing facility, a research and development campus, and a promising pipeline spearheaded by a PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy. These assets have positioned Lilly to expand its capabilities and make significant strides in integrating radiopharmaceuticals into its oncology strategies.

On Tuesday, Lilly further enhanced its radiopharma assets by entering into a significant agreement with Aktis Oncology. As part of this collaboration, Aktis will utilize its platform to develop anti-cancer candidates focused on targets selected by Lilly. This partnership is not just a financial investment but also a strategic alliance, as Lilly joins other notable investors in Aktis, including Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck & Co., and Novartis.

Aktis Oncology has garnered considerable attention due to its innovative approach of using miniproteins to deliver alpha-emitting isotopes directly to cancer cells. This method holds the promise of effectively destroying tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. In contrast to the beta-emitting drugs pioneered by Novartis, such as Pluvicto and Luthatera, Aktis believes that alpha emitters will play a pivotal role in the future of radiopharmaceuticals due to their higher potency.

The core of Aktis's innovation lies in its use of miniproteins to direct radioactive isotopes to their intended targets. This precision targeting is crucial in ensuring that the radioactive payloads reach tumor cells without causing excessive harm to healthy tissues. By focusing on selectivity and tumor penetration, Aktis has identified miniproteins as the optimal molecules for guiding their potent alpha emitters.

Aktis is currently testing its miniprotein and alpha emitter combination through an internal pipeline, which includes a clinical-phase candidate targeting nectin-4. Importantly, Aktis retains full rights to this nectin-4 candidate and the rest of its proprietary pipeline. The collaboration with Lilly will focus on developing new candidates, leveraging Aktis's platform and expertise in miniproteins and alpha emitters.

This partnership highlights the growing interest and investment in radiopharmaceuticals as a promising area for oncology treatment. With Aktis's innovative platform and Lilly's expansive resources and strategic vision, the collaboration aims to develop cutting-edge cancer therapies that offer precision targeting and potent anti-tumor effects. As the field of radiopharmaceuticals continues to evolve, partnerships like this one may pave the way for more effective and less harmful cancer treatments, ultimately benefiting patients and advancing the frontier of oncology.